Safety Inspection of Baebongsan Park in Preparation for the 2023 New Year's Sunrise Event

Dongdaemun-gu to Conduct Joint Inspection of Professional Engineers from 23rd to 25th, Focusing on Risk Factors Such as Deck Roads... Installation of Palm Mats and Securing Snow Removal Equipment in Areas Expected to Have Ice on Hiking Trails and Circumferential Paths

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Ilhyung Lee) conducted a safety inspection of Baebongsan Park facilities from the 23rd to the 25th in preparation for the New Year's sunrise event held at the summit of Baebongsan Park on January 1, 2023.

This inspection focused on identifying and eliminating potential hazards in the park facilities in advance to prevent safety accidents like the recent Itaewon tragedy during the sunrise event.

Especially since this event is being held for the first time in three years after the COVID-19 outbreak, a large crowd is expected. Therefore, the district office formed its own safety inspection team to thoroughly check all park facilities. For the deck roads, outdoor stage, and observation deck, a joint inspection with professional engineers was conducted to focus on risks such as structural damage, cracks, and corrosion.

Regarding the deck roads along the Baebongsan trail, since 2019, annual detailed safety inspections have been commissioned to specialized safety diagnosis companies, and the results have received the highest grade, A, for four consecutive years including this year.

The district plans to immediately address minor maintenance issues found during the inspection by December 10 using directly managed park maintenance personnel. For maintenance requiring budget and time, temporary safety measures will be implemented first, followed by preparation of repair plans to complete maintenance promptly before the sunrise event.

In addition, the district is doing its best to prevent various safety accidents that may occur in the park during winter by installing coconut fiber mats in areas prone to ice on trails and hiking paths, establishing an emergency work system for heavy snowfall, and securing snow removal equipment.

Ilhyung Lee, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, stated, “Since the Baebongsan New Year's sunrise event gathers many residents, we will carry out preemptive inspections to prepare for various safety accidents and do our best to manage facility safety so that residents can enjoy the event with peace of mind.”